Beginning restoration adventure. 16' SN 20031

[PBJ]

Looking for build sheet and info on this. 16' SN 20031

This boat has been in my family for a long time, possibly since delivery. It spent much of it's life in Hood River Oregon, and in the San Juan Islands of Washington. It now resides on the arid east side of the Cascades.

Family lore says it was built in 1911, and the SN supports that, if indeed it is an Old Town, but the boat is in really good shape. It has an Old Town decal. The Diamond head bolts confound me a little, they could have been an update at some point.



Wasn't sure how long this project was going to take. I was pleasantly surprised when i pulled off the canvas, the only real woodwork that it needs is a new keel, and some TLC for the port gunwale.

Appreciate the treasure that this community provides, and the opportunity to immerse myself in canoe history and craftsmanship.

Peter-

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome and congratulations, the Old Town canoe with serial number 20031 is 17 foot long, CS grade, Otca model with closed gunwales and no diamond headed bolts so that isn't a good match for your canoe. My guess is that you have the Carleton with this serial number. It is a 16 foot long, AA (or top) grade, Indian Princess model with red Western cedar planking, open mahogany gunwales, a keel, and a floor rack. This was built between February and July, 1930. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on July 18th, 1931 to Trenton, New Jersey. Scans of showing both of these build records can be found by following the links under the thumbnail images attached below.



These scans and several hundred thousand more were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others. A description of the project to preserve these records is available at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/records/ if you want more details. I hope that you will donate, join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See http://www.wcha.org/about-wcha to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/store/membership to join.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match the canoe. Old Town purchased Carleton in March of 1910 so it is not unusual to have name plates swapped at the factory or dealer in the rush to fill an order. The four nail holes from the Carleton name plate are still showing on the bow deck of your canoe. See the bottom example at http://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?attachments/2196/ for the style of tag that was probably on your canoe originally. Canoes with a long family connection are always extra special. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson

 

[PBJ]

Thank you! Those details match perfectly.

 

[MGC]

Interesting that you can see the 4 pin holes in the deck where the Carleton tag should be. The OT decal is sitting right in the middle of that. That's a new one to me.

 

[PBJ]

OT decals appear to be easier to obtain than brass Carleton tags! Not sure if the decal was original, but might stick with it. Any recommendations?

 

[Benson Gray]

Others with similar canoes have put a Carleton tag on the bow deck and an Old Town decal on the stern deck. I've know people who purchased wrecked canoes just to salvage the tag from the deck. I can supply a high resolution scan if you want to get the tag reproduced. Good luck,

Benson